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PCB Blog - Comprehensively interpret ROHS of environmental protection standards

PCB Blog

PCB Blog - Comprehensively interpret ROHS of environmental protection standards

Comprehensively interpret ROHS of environmental protection standards

2022-12-07
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Author:iPCB

What is RoHS?

RoHS is a mandatory standard formulated by EU legislation. Its full name is the RestricticTI of Hazardous Substances. This standard will be officially implemented on July 1, 2006, mainly used to regulate the material and process standards of electronic and electrical products, so as to make them more conducive to human health and environmental protection. The standard aims to eliminate six substances including lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls and polybrominated diphenyl ethers in electrical and electronic products, and emphatically stipulates that the content of lead shall not exceed 0.1%. The main sources of lead involved are as follows.


Basic contents of EU RoHS and WEEE directives

On February 13, 2003, the European Parliament and the European Commission issued the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE Directive for short) and the Restriction on the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electronic, Electrical and Pneumatic Equipment (RoHS Directive for short) in their Official Gazette

According to RoHS Directive and WEEE Directive, there are 10 categories of 102 products that are included in hazardous substance restriction management and scrap recovery management. The first seven categories of products are China's main export electrical products. Including large household appliances, small household appliances, information and communication equipment, consumer products, lighting equipment, electrical and electronic tools, toys, leisure and sports equipment, medical equipment (excluding implanted or infected products), monitoring and control instruments, and vending machines.

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RoHS Directive restricts the use of the following six categories of hazardous substances

1 Examples of mercury (mercury) using this substance: thermostats, sensors, switches and relays, bulbs

2 Examples of lead using this material: solder, glass, PVC stabilizer

3 Examples of cadmium using this substance: switches, springs, connectors, housings and PCBs, contacts, batteries

4 Chrome (hexavalent) Example of using this substance: metal attached corrosion coating

5 Examples of polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) using this substance: flame retardant, PCB, connector, plastic shell

6 Examples of polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) using this substance: flame retardant, PCB, connector, plastic shell


Test principle:

According to the requirements of EU WEEE&RoHS Directive, AOV is to separate products according to their materials, and test hazardous substances with different materials. In general:

·Four harmful metal elements such as Cd Cd/Pb Pb/Hg Hg/Cr6+hexavalent chromium shall be tested for metal materials

·In addition to the four harmful heavy metal elements, the plastic materials also need to be tested for brominated flame retardants (PBB/PBDE)

·At the same time, heavy metals in packaging materials of different materials also need to be tested (94/62/EEC)


The following are the upper limit concentrations of six harmful substances specified in RoHS:

Cadmium: less than 100ppm

Lead: less than 1000ppm

Less than 2500ppm in steel alloy

Less than 4000ppm in aluminum alloy

Less than 40000 ppm in copper alloy

Mercury: less than 1000ppm

Hexavalent chromium: less than 1000ppm


Reasons for RoHS

It was first noticed that electrical and electronic equipment contained heavy metals harmful to human health. In 2000, cadmium was found in the cables of game consoles sold in the Netherlands. In fact, the soldering tin and printing ink of packaging box, which are widely used in the production of electrical and electronic products, contain harmful heavy metals such as lead.


When to implement RoHS

The EU will implement RoHS on July 1, 2006. At that time, electrical and electronic products that use or contain heavy metals, PBDE, PBB and other flame retardants will not be allowed to enter the EU market.


Which products are specifically involved in RoHS

RoHS aims at all electrical and electronic products that may contain the above six harmful substances in the production process and raw materials, mainly including white goods, such as refrigerators, washing machines, microwave ovens, air conditioners, vacuum cleaners, water heaters, etc., black goods, such as audio and video products, DVD, CD, TV receivers, IT products, digital products, communication products, etc; Electric tools, electric electronic toys, medical electrical equipment


Current RoHS progress

Some large companies have noticed RoHS and started to take countermeasures. For example, SONY's digital camera has declared on the packaging box that: this product uses lead-free soldering; Printed with lead-free ink.


In 2004, the Ministry of Information Industry also issued the Administrative Measures for the Prevention and Control of Electronic Information Product Pollution, which is similar to RoHS. In October, it established the "Working Group for the Prevention and Control of Electronic Information Product Pollution" to study and establish a standard system for the prevention and control of electronic information product pollution in line with China's national conditions; Carry out research, formulation and revision of standards related to pollution prevention and control of electronic information products, especially accelerate the formulation of basic standards such as materials, processes, terminology, test methods and test methods that are urgently needed by the industry.


The Impact of RoHS on China's Electronic Industry

According to the latest data of China Electrical Appliance Industry Association, in the first quarter of 2004, China's mechanical and electrical products accounted for 55% of China's exports. And the EU has become the main market for China's mechanical and electrical products export? S:?? It's too complicated to be honest? The MOC Bangman OHS directive has made Chinese mechanical and electrical products worth nearly US $27 billion face the EU's environmental barriers.


The Chinese government has been paying close attention to and studying countermeasures. The State Council has specifically tasked the Ministry of Information Industry to be responsible for the research and response to EU environmental protection directives. The Administrative Measures for the Prevention and Control of Pollution from Electronic Information Products formulated by the Ministry of Information Industry in accordance with the Law on the Promotion of Cleaner Production, the Law on the Prevention and Control of Environmental Pollution by Solid Wastes and other relevant regulations has been completed and will be implemented as of January 1, 2005.


The Measures for the Administration of Pollution Prevention and Control of Electronic Information Products stipulates that since July 1, 2006, electronic information products listed in the list of key pollution prevention and control of electronic information products shall not contain lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated diphenyl ether, polybrominated biphenyl and other toxic and harmful substances. For a period of time before July 1, 2006, the Chinese government required electronic information product manufacturers to implement measures to reduce the production of toxic and harmful substances and actively seek alternatives.


At the same time,RoHS an organization called "Working Group on Pollution Prevention and PCB Standards for Electronic Information Products" has also begun to prepare for establishment. Its main task is to study and establish pollution prevention and PCB Standards for electronic information products in line with China's national conditions, carry out standard research and formulation related to pollution prevention and control of electronic information products, and especially accelerate the formulation of basic standards for urgently needed materials, processes, testing methods and experimental methods.